23 November 2023 , 13:42
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Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen was in no mood to get drawn into discussions about Lewis Hamilton's links to Red Bull.
Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, signed fresh terms with Mercedes earlier this year and will remain with the team until the end of the 2025 season. However, it has since emerged that conversations took place over a potential move to Red Bull for the British driver.
Red Bull chief Christian Horner has claimed Hamilton held "serious talks" with his team and with Ferrari before opting to commit his future to Mercedes. Red Bull have persisted with Verstappen and Sergio Perez, with the former winning the 2023 world drivers' championship at a canter, and Verstappen gave questions about Hamilton short shrift.
“What would it add to know?” Verstappen told reporters ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “Because I didn’t know, it’s not happening. You know there’s no point to make up stories if it’s not happening.” Pushed on whether he would like to team up with the Brit, Verstappen added: "I wouldn't mind. Any driver, it doesn't really matter."
Perez will finish the season a distant second behind his team-mate, prompting quesitons over the Mexican's future. He appears to have the backing of Red Bull, though, with Horner explaining he was happy with the situation.
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"I can't see Max and Lewis working out together," Horner told The Mail. "The dynamic wouldn't be right. We are 100 per cent happy with what we have."
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Red Bull have claimed they are happy with Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen (Getty Images)Hamilton, for his part, has fired back at Horner. "I don't really get where that story has come from," the 38-year-old told Sky Sports. "I don't know what he is talking about because as far as I am aware, nobody from my team has spoken to him. I haven't really spoken to him in years.
"He did reach out to me earlier in the year about meeting up but that's it. I congratulated him on an amazing year and said I hoped I would be fighting with Red Bull in the coming years. That was it, there was no confidential discussion.
"I think he is just stirring things, he loves that kind of stuff. I would be more than happy to race against Max in an equal car but for me, moving from a car that is not so great to a winning car is not a dream for me.
"The dream for me is to start where we are now and build up to winning. That is why I stayed with Mercedes. Red Bull has done an amazing job and is an amazing team and any driver would love to drive for such a great group of people."
Hamilton and Mercedes have one final chance to claim a race win in 2023 when they take to the start line in Abu Dhabi. Despite the lack of victories, they sit four points clear of Ferrari in the overall standings and can make sure of second place in the constructors' championship.